Dove delighted with professional Dons

7 September 2016

mkdons.com

Mike Dove praised the professionalism of his young MK Dons side after they beat Chalfont St Peter 4-1 in the first round of the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup.

Ben Tilney’s brace and superb strikes from Kabongo Tshimanga and Brandon Thomas-Asante secured the Dons’ passage through to the quarter-finals of the local competition, but it was the performance that pleased Director of Youth Dove the most.

“Attitude and application is key in games like this and for the most part it was there,” Dove told mkdons.com. “They didn’t stop, as far as I was concerned, with their professionalism – I was chuffed to bits with that.

“I thought (Chalfont) were honest and hard-working opponents. With that and the pitch, those were challenges we had to respect – they needed to show their professionalism and I feel the boys reacted in the right way.

“At the start of the game we were caught out with that when we were trying to find our way. Once we got into a rhythm and they got a feel for the opponent and the pitch, then our philosophy came through.”

“It’s important we build on this.”

“We’re trying to have a consistent development group so they feel like a team and we’re using this Senior Cup to support that.

Dove continued: “The sessions we’re doing together and the games we’re having aren’t just being thrown in without any thought – there’s a purpose to this work that we are doing.

“The manager was positive at the end. I think a number of players have planted seeds in his head or confirmed things. I know the chairman is really encouraged by the quality of players.”

“It was a really good opportunity for them because there were eyes on them. I’ve been a big supporter of having an under-21s group and I know the manager is as well. The chairman was here tonight too.

Tuesday’s clash not only provided a number of young professionals with a chance to get minutes under the belts, it also gave them an opportunity to impress boss Karl Robinson and chairman Pete Winkelman, who were both in the stands at Mill Meadow.